There are wineries you visit to taste wine—and then there are those that make you feel something deeper.
At Ferrari Trento, it’s never just about what’s in the glass—it’s about how you experience it.
From the moment I arrived, guided through the estate by Jacopo and Anna Chiara, I sensed it immediately. This was not a standard visit, but an invitation into a rhythm—one defined by elegance, harmony, and quiet intention.
Nothing feels forced. Nothing feels overdone.
Everything feels considered.
And as the day unfolded, one truth became clear: every bottle here carries its own story.
Where precision meets feeling
Set in the mountains of Trentino, with vineyards reaching up to 750 meters, Ferrari’s identity begins with altitude. You feel it not just in the air, but eventually in the glass.
Chardonnay is the foundation, representing the majority of production, while Pinot Noir adds depth and structure, particularly in rosé and Blanc de Noirs expressions.
Everything begins with care.
The harvest is entirely by hand, followed by immediate cooling to 12°C to preserve aromatic purity. From there, time becomes the defining element—not a constraint, but a tool.
Aging is deliberate and varied, from a few years to over a decade, allowing each wine to develop its intended expression while maintaining a remarkable sense of lift.
This balance—between energy and depth—is what Cyril Brun, cellar master later describes as:
“Vertical freshness.”
And underpinning it all is a philosophy of restraint:
“The best correction is the one you never have to make.”
Into the cellars: where time is shaped
Before the tasting, we moved into the cellars—and the pace shifted.
Cool, quiet, almost meditative, it’s a space that invites you to slow down. Rows of bottles rest in perfect order, each evolving at its own pace.
Then the riddling.
Three specialists, working entirely by hand, turn upwards of thirty-five thousand of bottles each day. The movement is rhythmic, precise, almost hypnotic. It’s a reminder that even at scale, Ferrari preserves the human touch where it matters most.
And then—the family library.
The bottles in the family library dating back to 1972 and beyond are not reserved for special occasions, but serve as a living reference for the winemaking team—an archive of decades of knowledge used to guide decisions and navigate both present and future challenges.
Standing there, you begin to understand: Ferrari is not just producing wine for the present—it is thinking in decades.
Villa Margon: where time stands still
If the cellars reveal time in motion, Villa Margon reveals time preserved.
Guided by Camilla Lunelli, the visit felt deeply personal—less a tour, more an invitation into the family’s history.
The villa’s 16th-century frescoes remain entirely original. Not restored, not altered—preserved simply by its location, tucked away from the main paths of history. Over centuries, it was never disturbed.
It simply remained.
Walking through its rooms, there is a palpable stillness—a journey of continuity that is rare to experience.
At one point, I asked quietly if it might be possible to see the private chapel.
To my surprise, the answer was yes.
Small, intimate, and still used for family mass, it offered a moment of quiet connection—something deeply human within the grandeur.
A rare privilege, and one that stayed with me.
A dream that reshaped Italian sparkling wine
Ferrari’s story begins with Giulio Ferrari, a visionary who saw potential where others did not.
After studying in Champagne, he recognized the unique conditions of Trentino—altitude, climate, and the ability to preserve acidity while achieving ripeness. He brought Chardonnay cuttings from Épernay and planted them here, convinced the region could produce wines of equal finesse.
In 1902, Ferrari was born.
“Everything can begin with a dream.”
From just 700 bottles, the house quickly gained recognition, earning international awards within a few years. Remarkably, it remained untouched through World War II, preserving not only its structure but its vision.
That vision was carried forward by Bruno Lunelli and continues today with the third generation of the Lunelli family—where tradition and evolution exist in balance.
Meeting Cyril Brun: listening before leading
When Cyril Brun joined Ferrari, his first instinct was not to change—but to understand.
“For the first six months, I did nothing. I observed, I listened, I learned.”
That approach speaks volumes.
His role is not to redefine Ferrari, but to refine it—guided by a clear philosophy:
“Verticality. Crystalline clarity. Purity… and Pleasure.”
And it is within the tasting that these words come fully to life.
The tasting: a progression in precision
The tasting unfolds as a progression—each wine building on the last, moving from energy and brightness into depth and complexity.
Chardonnay remains Ferrari’s central voice, but Pinot Noir is an increasingly important counterpoint. Brun described Ferrari’s identity as a duet between the two grapes.
“That’s why you see black and white everywhere in Ferrari communication—it’s the duet between Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.”
During our tasting, I asked Brun what he would be if he were not a winemaker.
His answer came without hesitation:
“I would be an orchestra conductor.”
It is a perfect metaphor for the way he works. “Making wine is like conducting an orchestra. You have the small triangle, you have the big bass, and you have to deal with all those different voices.”
That image lingers. It captures both his humility and his precision. A conductor does not impose sound from nothing. He shapes, balances, listens, and guides. That is exactly what Brun appears to be doing at Ferrari.
- Ferrari Brut NV: Fresh citrus dream
Bright citrus, lemon peel, and crisp orchard fruit define the opening—clean, vibrant, and immediately inviting. - Ferrari Maximum Blanc de Blancs: Nutty, smoky darling
Subtle layers emerge—hazelnut, brioche, and a gentle smokiness, adding depth while preserving freshness. - Ferrari Maximum Rosé: Crispy tension, radiantly charming, feminine
Delicate yet structured, with refined red fruit and a graceful, lingering tension. - Ferrari Perlé 2019: Restless energy—citrus, zest, pith
A striking expression of Ferrari’s signature—focused, linear, and driven by vibrant acidity. - Ferrari Perlé Bianco 2016: “Super Perlé.” Smoky, chalky, huge tension, creamy depth
A defining wine—precise and layered, combining remarkable tension with subtle creaminess and depth. - Ferrari Perlé Nero 2018: Berry breeze, almond richness, structured purity
Pinot Noir expressed with restraint—elegant, structured, and quietly complex. - Ferrari Riserva Lunelli 2016: Gastronomic. Buttery. A marching band of flavors
Broader and more expansive, with seamless oak integration and layered complexity designed for the table. - Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore 2015: Hazelnut cream, clove, citrus curd, mineral intensity
The pinnacle—rich yet precise, where depth, structure, and elegance converge. - Ferrari Perlé 2007: Aromatic explosion—marmalade, mushroom, caramel, salted hazelnut
An extraordinary finish—deeply layered, evolving, and remarkably fresh despite its age.
What stayed with me
What defines Ferrari is not what it tries to be—but what it chooses not to become.
It does not chase power.
It does not overstate itself.
Instead, it focuses on precision, balance, and identity.
Mountain freshness.
Energy without excess.
Complexity without weight.
And through it all—a sense of ease.
Final sip
Ferrari Trento may have been inspired by Champagne—but it has become something entirely its own.
A house shaped by altitude, defined by time, and guided by intention.
And for me, this was more than a visit.
It was an experience you feel—
and one that stays with you.
What Ferrari has created is more than a winery—it’s a feeling, one that lingers long after the last glass.